Lembata, Indonesia. On Sunday, November 29, 2020, Mount Ile Lewotolok, located in Lembata Regency, Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara province, spewed a column of volcanic ash of about 4000 meters high into the air at 09:45 a.m. local time. This eruption has forced more than four thousand residents out of their homes and left profound pain and misery in the lives of Lembata people within this unfinished global pandemic of coronavirus. On that very Sunday at the beginning of Advent pilgrimage, this natural calamity shakes our spiritual and mundane journey to be alert.
In responding to this natural disaster, the Claretian Missionaries Indonesia-Timor Leste Independent Delegation under its JPIC Commission and initiated by the Delegation Econome, Fr. Eugenius Paul Madoni, cmf has taken a prompt response in helping the victims.
The appeal to get in touch with the victims by helping their basic necessities was convoked. What a miracle! Many benefactors open their hearts to help their brothers and sisters sincerely. Among others are Pahoa Catholic Community in Jakarta, some Basic Christian Community in Jakarta, some families, and those who donate personally. Fr. Dony thanked all the benefactors for their sincere help and experienced others as their brothers. It was affirmed by Fr. Gregorius Berthon Mbete, cmf, the JPIC Coordinator, that this painful moment opens our horizon of seeing others, our brothers, and the same fellow travelers on this journey. This is precisely the spirituality of Advent pilgrimage that we are living.
